Worktable



Feb. 14, 1933. w. o. SUSTINS WORKTABLE Filed Oct. 16, 1930 a Y E rw m NV 0 m i tor mm A Patented Feb. 14, 1933 UNITED sra'rss .VALTER- o. SUSIINS, or SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, Assrenon 'ro APPLIANCE 00., or SAGINAW, MICHIGAN earen'r orrics SUMMERS} Bites? WOBKTABLE Application filed October 16, 1930. Serial No. 489,103.

This invention relates to improvements in tables adapted for use in conjunction with machines or appropriate appliances and utensils, for example, household ironing machines or mangles that are ordinarily too large and too heavy to be Conveniently lifted or moved about from place to place by the user; or it may serve a sewing machine, typewriter, gas or electric plate or a small stove.

It is an object of my invention to provide in combination with a table of ordinary construction a folding shelf hinger to the legs of the table at an appropriate height to accommodate an ironing machine and arranged to swing either for *ardly or rearwardly, carrying the ironing machine with it.

In the forwardly projecting horizontal position of the shelf the ironing machine is located conveniently for use in front of the front edge of the table top, and the entire table surface is available for spreading and piling the goods durin the ironing opera tions.

In the rearwardly projecting horizontal position of the shelf the ironer or other appliance is concealed beneath the table top, the whole presenting merely the appearance of an ordinary table.

Another object of the invention is to provide the shelf with a counterpoise whereby the manual effortrequired to lift the ironer up to its working position is minimized, also the eflort required to raise the shelf and ironer into its concealed position.

lVith the foregoing and certain other objects in view, which will appear later in the specification, my invention comprises the devices described and claimed and the equivalents thereof.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a front perspective view, partly broken away, showing a table with my improvement attached.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end view.

Fig. 3 is a part sectional bottom View of a portion of the table with the shelf extended.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end view corresponding to Fig. 2, showing the shelf in its rearwardly folded position.

As is clearly shown in the drawing, the structure comprises the table top 1 and supports or legs 2 and a connecting framework as rails 3.

A suitable supporting framework, such as a folding shelf l, is secured by hinges 5 to the front legs of the table. A handle 6 at the outer edge of the shelf is used for raising and lowering it. 7

The displaceable means for supporting the folding shelf in its forwardly projecting horizontal position, shown in Fig. 1, comprises preferably a folding leg 7 that is secured to toe under side of the shelf by a hinge 8 and is stiffened by a suitable folding brace 9, so that the leg will fold flat along the under edge of the shelf, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A releasable latch 10 is mounted on end rail for holding the shelf in its concealed position beneath the table top, as shown in Fig. 1. An ironing machine or mangle 11 is fixed to the folding shelf.

The counterpoise for the weight of the ironing machine consists of an arm 12 fixed to the under side of the shelf at its rear edge, a rod 13 pivoted to the arm and extending rearwardly under the table top, a washer 14 fined to the rod, a compression spring 15 on the rod and a brace bar or abutment member 16 secured to the under side of the table, as is illustrated in Fig. 3. An opening 17 is provided in this brace bar for the passage of the rod 13 which slides back and forth through it when the spring is compressed or released.

The position of the arm 12 with relation to the plane of the shelf 4 is such as to cause the spring 15 to be compressed when the table is push d downward from its forwardly extending position shown in Fig. 1. In that position it is obvious that the spring acts as a counterpoise to the weight of the shelf and ironing machine.

\Vhen the leg has been folded and the shelf has been lowered to its depending position between the front supports, the spring 15 is under compression, and arm 12 is approximately in line with the spring, as on a dead center. When the table is raised to the position of Fig. .1 the spring is still in compression and then exerts its greatest supportin'g force on the shelf because it is approximately at right angles to the position ofther arm. Similarly, maximum leverage and sustaining force isexerted by the spring when I the shelf is in its rearwardly folded position,

as shown in Fig. 4. In some applications of the invention. the spring may be made strong enough to hold the shelf in this position, the latch being dispensed with. i I

Upon'releasing the latch the shelf and ironing supporti' swing downward, being cushioned by the compression of the spring; l When the shelf is at the bottom of the swing the operator lifts the shelfby the handle 6,

' unfolds the leg 7 and the machine is ready for use. It will'be noted that'by this arrange ment the shelf and'ironing machine are not only at convenient height for the operator, butthey' are also conveniently placed with respect to the tabletop so the latter can be usedfor both the unironecl and finished goods.- WVhen the leg ,7 is down it not only supports the greater part of theweight of shelf 4: and machine ll, but alsocrenders the table 7 more rigid by increasing the area of its supporting base and carrying the weight on five legs instead of four.

Preferably thetwo' 1egs time; table at one end are equipped with castors so the table can be rolled from place to place after lift-f portsfor the same, a shelf member" hinged .ing up the otherend, which is equipped with legs without castors, as shownin Fig. 1.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim fanddesire to secur'eby LettersPatent 1. In combination withla table top and supat'fits, rearward edge to said supports at' a point below said top and a'rranged to swing between said supports-to an inverted position beneaththetop, a latch carried by the table and positioned to releasably engage the shelf member when in said inverted position,

a machinefixed to s'aidshelf'memben'a down-c V, wardlyextended arm fixed to the opposite face of the shelf near its hinged edge, an abut 7' ment member fixed to the table, a springops eratively interposed between said arm and abutment member and arranged to counterpoise said shelf in its'forwardlv extended position by exerting thrust against the arm below the hinge and to counterpoise the shelf in its rearward position by exerting thrust against f the arm above the hinge.

2; In, combination with a tablecomprising atop. andr supports therefor, a shelf hinged atjone edge to said table, a member supportthe table and a spring operativelv interposed between the arm and the abutment and ar ranged to exert pressure against the arm for supporting the shelf in both the forwardly extended horizontal position and in the rearward inverted position ,ofsaid shelf.

- 3'. In combination with-fa table, a shelf hinged to said table, a support for said shelf in forwardly extended horizontal position,

alatch comprising aispring hook carried the table top and adapted 'to releasably'support theshelf in rearwardly projecting posii tion beneath thetable top, a machine fixed to 7 said shelf member, an arm projecting from the opposite faceof'the shelf and counter- ;poise means including a spring operatively interposed ,between ythe table top and said shelf andadapted to exert pushing force against the arm inone direction when the shelf is'in its extendedfposition and in the oppositedirection when the shelf is inits inverted concealed position.

4. In combinatiof with a table, a shelf hinged to said table and arranged to swing to an inverted position beneath the table top, a member supporting said shelf in forward-1 1y extended horizontal position, 'amachine fixed to saidshelf, an arm projectingfrom the opposite face of the shelf, andcounterpoise means including a-spring' operatively interposed betweenthe table top and the arm and adapted to exert pushing force ag ainst ing theshelfin forwardly extende'dhorii z ontalpositioma latch positioned to releasablyengage and support the shelf in rear- 'wardly projecting inverted position beneath the table top, a machine fixed to said shelf member, and spring-actuated counterpoise means operatively interposed between the top and shelf, said means'comp'rising an armse-.

cured to a face of the shelf, an abutment on 

